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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

It is with heavy sadness that this sad news reached our ears this night. Local PTG mailing list just sent out notice that our great friend Jerry Groot has passed away. He had been very recently diagnosed with a serious iillness. As details emerge I will update, or others can as well.

God speed old friend, mentor, advocate. You were loved by all and your humor and knowledge and your beautiful humanity will be VERY much missed.

Let me be the first to say RIP. He was a great guy, a great forumer, and I'm guessing a fantastic tech. I exchanged many a pleasant PM with him. He will be sorely missed, but it is my prayer that he is now in a better place where illness isn't a worry.

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Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear weapons.

It is a testament to his spirit and character that in the face of the horror of pancreatic cancer-he maintained such a sense of humor and generosity. His posts bear witness to this fact. May we all learn from his example.

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In a seemingly infinite universe-infinite human creativity is-seemingly possible.According to NASA, 93% of the earth like planets possible in the known universe have yet to be formed. Contact: Ed@LightHammerpiano.com

As I read this, I was desperately hoping the date of the original post was April 1st. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I appreciated reading what he had to say, and Jerry was helpful to me through PM's as well.

Thoughts and condolences to his friends and family. I'm sorry I never had a chance to meet him in person or play one of the concert instruments under his care.

I only knew him through this forum. What he showed here impressed me greatly. I could tell he was a world class tech. I also greatly respected his role as peacemaker here at PW when things would get out of hand.

I am sorry to hear this. I had wondered why we had not heard from him lately, and knowing about his health problems I was afraid for him. I think we had made his last days brighter, and we can all be happy to remember that.

As did I. Jerry was one of the contributors to this forum from whom I learned many subtle points (and some not so subtle ones ). I hope that his family and loved ones will find avenues to new strength and happiness.

I was wondering why I haven't seen Jerry on here for awhile. I'm shocked. I have PM with him on PW and Facebook. I was hoping to meet him one day in person at a convention. My sympathy goes out to his family

Jerry was diagnosed in mid-February and by the time it was found, the cancer had metastasized. I've been in contact with him through the treatments, and have been following the CarePage that had been set up for him.

I will caution that there hasn't been an update confirming this on the CarePage that the family maintains, though I have no reason to doubt the information. Jerry will truly be missed. Though I never met him in person, he and I became very good long distance friends. My prayers are with the family.

Even though i'm a new member, been lurking long enough to know who Jerry Groot was. His avatar was a perfect match! I knew something was up when he stopped been a daily contributor. Was hoping he was on vacation...Now he is gone but will never be forgotten. The knowledge he gave us lives on, here at Piano World. A belated thank you and my condolences to the family and friends.

I will caution that there hasn't been an update confirming this on the CarePage that the family maintains, though I have no reason to doubt the information. Jerry will truly be missed. Though I never met him in person, he and I became very good long distance friends. My prayers are with the family.

I'm truly sorry to hear this. Jerry was so gratious to answer any question thoughly that I ever put to him. I'll sure miss his sense of humor too. I too had hoped to meet him in person one day. SIncere condolences to his family and all here who were his friends.

I couldn't believe this when I read it. Like others here I just knew him through the forum, but he was always so full of life I had no idea he was even sick!

He made a great impact on me with his optimism, wisdom, and general good spirit. Always lightening things up, mediating something for peace, or providing good perspective. So much knowledge and experience shared as well.

One of the nicest people here - always ready to help others and a fellow technician that gained my utmost respect. May he rest in peace. So sad to learn of his passing and hope that the huge funny posts that bear his name in the title continue as a means to not only remenber him but to give him continued humour in his new life. Goodbye Jer, it was good to know you my friend.

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Concert Tuner & Technician for the past 49 years in the United Kingdomand Member of the Pianoforte Tuners' Association (London)www.jphillipspianoservices.freeindex.co.uk : E-mail jophillips06@aol.com

I still remember him mentioning (on which thread I can't recall) that he would see notes that his grandfather had written inside pianos which said, "Hey Jer," so that they would be seen by him when he tuned for that customer years later. You don't often see three generations of experience like that anymore!How about this customer comment on his web site:

Jun 5, 2012"Jerry and his dad have been servicing our pianos for around 60 years now. Our pianos always sound so good when they are finished! Thank you so much for your great work!!!"

Thanks, Jerry Groot for the thoughts and the memories! Now, I am sure you are enjoying seeing all of them again. Our loss, your blessing.

Commiserations to immediate family, extended family members, friends and associates. Such a significant loss to the wife and children.

Let us all endure the sadness of loss but rejoice together knowing the suffering for Jerry has ended.

We each owe a death â€” there are no exceptions. Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not. Time takes it all, bears it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.

I often think about all of us, walking our own journey, alone but together, each in our own time.

That is so sad.. Jer and I were good friends.. and he was my Mentor in this biz.

Jer was a very kind and thoughtful person and willing to give the shirt off his back. He and I went to the PTG convention in KC,Mo two years ago. What a guy... We spent hours together playing BF2 and talking Piano stuff almost every night for the last 5 years.

God Bless You Jer, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, Co, Jer Jr. , and Joe.

I'm not sure if sadness or anger is my primary emotion. Either way, it is all part of grief. Jerry was only 56 years old.

Many of you will remember that Jerry had gallbladder surgery in mid-January. Even with a month of recuperation, Jer had not strengthened as expected. Finally, on 2/21/13, he was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. He and Cozette were given the choice of treatment or following a natural course of events.

Jerry underwent two courses of chemotherapy at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, IL. On 3/21/13, Jerry decided to go on Hospice, rather than continue with treatment.

He was surrounded with the love of his family and friends in his final days. He and Co had sponsored a number of exchange students and one of their exchange daughters flew from Hong Kong for a final visit. Such was the love which surrounded our dear friend.

Think of Jerry with a smile as you remember his delightful humor. Jerry always loved a "good one" and was the author of many.